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Local nonprofit presents financial-literacy program, urges West Orange schools to expand partnership and transparency
Summary
At the July 22 West Orange Board of Education meeting, Maritza Brown presented the Circle of Rainbow Sisters' financial-literacy and scholarship work (started 2017), said the group has awarded more than $227,000, and asked the district to help nominate students and improve transparency about scholarship requirements and class-ranking metrics.
Maritza Brown, founding president and chairperson of the Circle of Rainbow Sisters, told the West Orange Board of Education on July 22 that her group’s financial-literacy program — launched in 2017 — has awarded more than $227,000 in scholarships and student supports and seeks deeper cooperation with district schools.
"We started this program back in 2017," Brown said in her presentation to the board, outlining two program tracks: an early-development financial-discipline curriculum for elementary through high school students and a scholarship program for graduating seniors. Brown said the organization has restricted recent scholarship applications to students who participated in its early-development workshops and that some awards are being held in escrow until schools request distribution.
Parent Sherrill Raymond, who spoke after Brown, urged the district to make scholarship criteria more transparent for families. "It's a general application, which is great and easy. However, you don't have the qualifications that are needed for all of the different scholarships available," Raymond said, arguing that clear, category-specific requirements and earlier notice would help students plan and compete for awards. She also asked the district to explain how the "top 10" ranking for graduating classes is calculated and when points are accumulated.
Brown described scholarship winners such as Sheree Musa and Olivia Raymond and said the program’s workshops teach budgeting, investing concepts ("rule of 72") and insurance basics. She asked the district to nominate students for the program, suggested quarterly coordination meetings with school leaders, and asked counselors and principals to help identify candidates.
President Rock thanked Brown and Raymond and said Superintendent Moore would take the presentation back for follow-up with staff. No formal board action or vote was taken on the presentation.
The program’s materials presented to the board state the organization has awarded "over $227,000." Brown also referenced individual awards (examples quoted in the presentation include $500 awards and larger aggregated totals), and Raymondd asked the board to provide clearer guidance about scholarships and class-rank calculation so families can plan.
